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Center for Arthropod Management Technologies (CAMTech)

University of Florida

University of Kentucky

Last Reviewed: 08/02/2018

CAMTech streamlines efforts toward development of technologies for effective management of arthropod and nematode pests and disease vectors. Research within the center is aligned with the needs of industry to expedite delivery of new tools for pest management.

Center Mission and Rationale

Arthropod and nematode pests deleteriously impact food production and human health and welfare on a massive scale. The pests of primary importance change with time following the accidental introduction of new species, development of resistance in managed pests, changing agricultural and environmental practices, and climate change which provides increased opportunity for some pest species to thrive.

CAMTech streamlines the efforts of industry, government and academia toward development of technologies for effective management of arthropod and nematode pests. Research within the center is aligned with the needs of industry to expedite delivery of new tools for pest management. The goals of CAMTech are to 1) conduct pre-competitive research and transfer knowledge to industrial partners for in house development, 2) optimize and extend the versatility of current arthropod and nematode management technologies, and 3) train personnel for potential future employment within industry.

In addition to faculty members at University of Florida and at the University of Kentucky, researchers from other institutions may be engaged to fill specific needs as requested by center members.

Research program

Genomics

Genomic analysis allows for the identification of novel target sequences in a given pest, and for identification of specific insect and nematode biotypes associated with resistance to current control measures. Recent advances in genomics tools, including forward and reverse genetics and genome editing, allow for comprehensive functional genomics analysis. Modern genomics approaches are applied to insects of agricultural and medical importance and to nematodes of agricultural importance to provide fundamental information as the basis for new targeted pest management approaches.

Resistance

The use of classical chemical insecticides was a major contributing factor to the increase in agricultural productivity in the 20th century, and insecticide application is still the primary management practice in use today for most arthropod pests. However, repeated application of chemicals almost invariably results in development of resistance in the targeted pest, with insecticide resistance already documented in more than 500 species of insects and mites. As a result, a wide variety of chemicals effectively employed in the past are no longer useful against many pest species. The repeated use of any pest management tool, including transgenic plants expressing insect-specific toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), entails a very high risk of bringing about resistance. There is a pressing need to find new approaches to manage pests that are resistant to current management approaches.

Methods and Tools

Limitations associated with methodology or tools commonly restrict research required for the development or full exploitation of pest control strategies. For example, cell lines are often lacking for primary pest species, with existing cell lines offering limited benefit. In addition, novel tools such as nanoparticles are under investigation for the delivery of bioactives for pest control.

Physiology

Increased understanding of a variety of physiological processes could provide the foundation for novel approaches to insect pest control (e.g. the movement of proteins across the insect gut into the hemocoel), or define key physiological challenges associated with control of a given pest (e.g. the digestive enzymes of stink bugs). In many organisms, including arthropods, introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) results in specific inactivation of an endogenous gene with sequence identity to the introduced dsRNA, a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi provides for the development of target-specific management methods for insect pests. Application of dsRNA knocks down genes in some arthropod species and the practical application of this approach for arthropod control has been demonstrated. However, research is needed to delineate factors that currently limit the application of RNAito certain arthropods, to fully exploit the potential of this new approach.

Toward IPM

The integration of multiple pest management methods (i.e. integrated pest management, IPM) is a proven but infrequently adopted strategy for sustainable pest suppression, in part because results can be somewhat variable depending on many factors. Inconsistent efficacy of a given management strategy may be resolved by further research into the biology of a given pest and modeling for increased understanding of the ecology of the cropping system, resulting in recommendations for improved management. For example, understanding of insect dispersal and reproductive capacity is key to accurate modeling of resistance development and its likely rate of spread from a point of origin.